US designates Islamic Jihad official as terrorist

Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the terror cell’s deputy secretary general, was involved in missile attacks against Israel

Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants pray during a rally marking the 17th anniversary of the killing of Fathi Shiqaqi, the militant movement's founder, in Rafah, October 2 (photo credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash 90)
Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants pray during a rally marking the 17th anniversary of the killing of Fathi Shiqaqi, the militant movement's founder, in Rafah, October 2 (photo credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash 90)

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration designated a top Palestinian Islamic Jihad official as a terrorist.

Ziyad al-Nakhalah is Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s deputy secretary general, the State Department said in a statement, and noted that Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for a December 22 Tel Aviv bus bombing.

No one was hurt in that bombing, in which an alert driver evacuated the bus after passengers noticed a suspicious knapsack under a seat.

“Ziyad has repeatedly taken credit for attacks against Israel,” the statement said. “For example, Ziyad took credit for PIJ’s indiscriminate missile attacks into Israel in 2011, 2009, and 2008.”

US law bans any transactions with designated terrorists and any assets they have that come under the control of any US-based institution are frozen.

Most Popular
read more:
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.